COVID-19 vaccination site opens in Yokohama

A vaccination centre in the Japanese city of Yokohama started vaccinating its residents over the age of 65 on Sunday.

The centre aims to vaccinate 3,000 people each day using the Moderna jab.

It has 17 vaccination booths staffed by some 240 medics and other workers.

The mayor of Yokohama, Fumiko Hayashi, visited the centre and said everything appeared to be going smoothly.

Yasutoshi Komatsu, a 74-year-old Yokohama resident, was among the first to get innoculated. He said he was relieved to have had the shot.

Mieko Honma, who was also vaccinated, said she was still worried.

"If the Olympics happens, I am worried that cases will go up again," Honma said.

The vaccination centre is set remain open until the end of July, a week after the start of the Olympic Games.

Japan has approved COVID-19 vaccines by Pfizer-BionTech, Moderna and AstraZeneca.